The annually compiled list provides a guide for independent moviemakers to help them select which film festivals they should submit to and attend. Industry Accreditation for the 2017 Calgary International Film Festival running September 20 - October 1 is now open.

The MovieMaker writeup about the Calgary International Film Festival reads:

2016 was a landmark year for Calgary International Film Festival: It obtained Academy-qualifying status, upped its cash prize pool by 53 percent, doubled its press coverage and set new attendance records, and bestowed CAD$50,000 worth of short-film funding to its pitch contest winners. It also launched a series of events called Behind the Screen, including field trips to the Calgary Film Centre studio and other Alberta filming locations, masterclasses, panels, and demos on F/X and animal training. Can 2017 top that?

With thousands of film festivals accepting submissions, MovieMaker champions audience-focused festivals, which form the core of the independent film circuit. MovieMaker specifically looks at elements including press opportunities, networking occasions, industry attendance, high-quality workshops and panels, strong alumni services, acceptance statistics, and festivals where filmmakers feel that their films forge a genuine connection with audiences who are truly engaged.

Recognized for academy-qualifying status for short films, a new attendance record, the BravoFact Pitch Contest, and a new Behind the Screen Series, the Calgary International Film Festival sits alongside other prestigious festivals including the Austin Film Festival, the DC Shorts Film Festival, and the Slamdance Film Festival. In addition to Calgary, the international list names six other Canadian festivals: the Edmonton International Film Festival, Fantasia International Film Festival (Montreal), Female Eye Film Festival (Toronto), Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival (Toronto), Vancouver International Film Festival and the Victoria Film Festival.

This is the third time that the Calgary International Film Festival was named as one of the Top Festivals Worth Your Entry Fee. The festival also made the list in 2016 and 2009.